Do you also want to leave?

Gospel Thoughts*

*Ordinary Season : 21st Week - Sunday*

*GOSPEL - Jn 6:60-69*

*First Reading - Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b*

*SECOND READING - Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32*

*Do you also want to leave?”*

*1) One of the important questions of our life*

Jesus asked this question to His disciples *Do you also want to leave?*

To this question, Peter answers in this way *Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”*

The above answer of Peter shows us that, we can't live without Jesus and for a Christian it is very hard to leave Jesus and live his/her life

*2) Jesus asks the same question to us*

The above question is addressed to us. What is my reply? 

At the peripheral level we may say that we don't want to leave Jesus and live our life 

But the careful examination of our life will show us that we really mean the position

At times our way of life may reflect that we want to go away from our Lord

*3) People went away from Jesus, when they found His teaching was hard to Follow*

The Gospel makes it very clear that, a section of people went back to their former ways because they found Jesus' teaching was hard to follow. 

So that is why they went away from Jesus. 

This is the important point to note, because this particular position also has a great relevance to our Life. 

If so how we can apply this situation to our life?

*4) Some of the ways through which we go away from the Lord*

Some people find very hard to accept the teaching of forgiveness. To this their response would be, *This is too much, who can follow this?* This attitude is a sign that those people want to leave Jesus and go away 

To some people  the virtue *Humility*  is too hard to follow 

Some have difficulty to practice the virtue of *generosity*

Some people can't think of sharing their wealth and resources with others 

For Some people to control the habit of gossip is a great challenge 

Some people can't remain silent without taking revenge for small things 

Some people can't digest the wellbeing of others 

Some people can't think of their life without quarrel, jealousy, division etc 

In all above things, the person is directly or indirectly expressing his/her views in the following words *This is too much, who can follow this?*

So they ignore the teachings of Jesus and fall back to their older/sinful ways 

This shows that they want to leave Jesus' teaching and want to live according to their whims and fancies

*5) What about my life?*

Am I also want to leave and go? 

Am l also want to  leave and go away from good values, moral way of life, generosity, forgiveness, humility, sensibility, God's love, sincerity, sacrifice, commitment, faithfulness, hardwork, love, happiness? 

Am I also go away from from conscience, my family??

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*